CFOM (defunct)
Encyclopedia
CFOM was a Canadian
radio station. Owned by Goodwill Broadcasters of Quebec, it was the only English language
radio station in Quebec City
until it was shut down in 1976.
The station was a privately owned affiliate of the CBC Radio
network. At the time Quebec City was the only provincial capital without a CBC owned and operated English language radio station. This put CFOM in a difficult position as a commercial station whose license required it to air predominantly non-commercial programming. As such, it was a money-bleeder for most of its existence.
It didn't help matters that the area's anglophone population was just barely large enough for the station to be viable. For most of its history, its listenership came primarily from anglophone members of the National Assembly
, as well as anglophone government employees.
In 1951, Goodwill asked for permission to offer service in both English and French. However, the CBC, which at the time doubled as both regulator and broadcaster, turned the request down. A year later, Goodwill asked for permission to switch to French only. That request was also turned down. In 1963, Goodwill asked the Board of Broadcast Governors
, which had become Canada's broadcast regulator five years earlier, to remove the stipulation that it operate only in English. This request was also refused.
Originally, the station operated on 1340 AM, broadcasting at only 250 watts. This effectively limited its coverage area to Quebec City itself, and even there it was barely listenable. In 1964, after it was recalled CFOM, the station was allowed to move to 1350 AM and boost its power to 1,000 watts. Even with increased power, the station continued to lose money.
In 1972 CFOM made the decision to change to a Top 40 hit radio format while maintaining a minimum of CBC network programs. Subsequent ratings and commercial financial returns for the station improved as French listeners now tuned in to hear popular English language music. However, in 1974, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ordered the station to go back to its money-losing format of non-commercial CBC programs.
Rather than comply with the CRTC order, owner Norman Lucas tried to put the station up for sale. The request was denied, and Lucas took the station off the air on August 8, 1975. However, the silence was brief as the station returned later the same day under a new license, as a CBC-owned rebroadcaster of CBM
in Montreal
. The CBC had been licensed to open a new transmitter in Quebec City on FM, but was granted a temporary license to keep CFOM on the air until CBVE-FM
could be launched. No privately-owned anglophone station has signed on in Quebec City since CFOM's demise.
The call letters are now assigned to a non-related francophone station, CFOM-FM
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
radio station. Owned by Goodwill Broadcasters of Quebec, it was the only English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
radio station in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
until it was shut down in 1976.
History
The station was launched in 1949, with the call sign CJNT, later changing to CJQC in 1953. It finally adopted the CFOM call sign, which it retained for the remainder of its existence, in 1964.The station was a privately owned affiliate of the CBC Radio
CBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
network. At the time Quebec City was the only provincial capital without a CBC owned and operated English language radio station. This put CFOM in a difficult position as a commercial station whose license required it to air predominantly non-commercial programming. As such, it was a money-bleeder for most of its existence.
It didn't help matters that the area's anglophone population was just barely large enough for the station to be viable. For most of its history, its listenership came primarily from anglophone members of the National Assembly
National Assembly of Quebec
The National Assembly of Quebec is the legislative body of the Province of Quebec. The Lieutenant Governor and the National Assembly compose the Parliament of Quebec, which operates in a fashion similar to those of other British-style parliamentary systems.The National Assembly was formerly the...
, as well as anglophone government employees.
In 1951, Goodwill asked for permission to offer service in both English and French. However, the CBC, which at the time doubled as both regulator and broadcaster, turned the request down. A year later, Goodwill asked for permission to switch to French only. That request was also turned down. In 1963, Goodwill asked the Board of Broadcast Governors
Board of Broadcast Governors
The Board of Broadcast Governors was a Canadian arms-length government agency created in 1958 to regulate television and radio broadcasting, originally taking over that function from the CBC. It was replaced by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in 1968....
, which had become Canada's broadcast regulator five years earlier, to remove the stipulation that it operate only in English. This request was also refused.
Originally, the station operated on 1340 AM, broadcasting at only 250 watts. This effectively limited its coverage area to Quebec City itself, and even there it was barely listenable. In 1964, after it was recalled CFOM, the station was allowed to move to 1350 AM and boost its power to 1,000 watts. Even with increased power, the station continued to lose money.
In 1972 CFOM made the decision to change to a Top 40 hit radio format while maintaining a minimum of CBC network programs. Subsequent ratings and commercial financial returns for the station improved as French listeners now tuned in to hear popular English language music. However, in 1974, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ordered the station to go back to its money-losing format of non-commercial CBC programs.
Rather than comply with the CRTC order, owner Norman Lucas tried to put the station up for sale. The request was denied, and Lucas took the station off the air on August 8, 1975. However, the silence was brief as the station returned later the same day under a new license, as a CBC-owned rebroadcaster of CBM
CBME-FM
- External links :* * at Canadian Communications Foundation...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. The CBC had been licensed to open a new transmitter in Quebec City on FM, but was granted a temporary license to keep CFOM on the air until CBVE-FM
CBVE-FM
CBVE-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts the programming of the CBC Radio One network at 104.7 FM in Quebec City. The station's main transmitter for Quebec City is located at Mount Bélair....
could be launched. No privately-owned anglophone station has signed on in Quebec City since CFOM's demise.
The call letters are now assigned to a non-related francophone station, CFOM-FM
CFOM-FM
CFOM-FM is a French-language Canadian radio station located in Quebec City, Quebec. While the station's official city of license is and always has been Lévis, its studios are now in Quebec City, and it identifies itself as a Quebec City station....
.
External links
- CFOM History at the Canadian Communications FoundationCanadian Communications FoundationThe Canadian Communications Foundation is a history of Canadian broadcasting for radio and television chronicles and documents. It also provides a history of radio and television stations, including networks, programs, broadcasters and many others....
- History of CFOM at Phonothèque québécoise
- Aircheck of CFOM's final signoff at Rock Radio Scrapbook